The upper quarters (which I’ve seen) was used for storage only after a fire destroyed the north side of the building soon before Laemmle rented it from an undertaker. The three windows in front were sealed as a result of the fire. The building was deemed “a one story building,” as Carl Laemmle made note in an unpublished 1927 memoir.
Yes. This was the location, but this is not the White Front Theatre. It was taken over in February 1911 by the Peto Brothers (Peto Theatre) for a short time before the business dissolved in the fall of 1911.
I’ve read with great interest what’s been written about the Darb Theatre. Our family owned a house across the tracks, a block north. We had a grocery on main street which is now part of the U.S. Post Office. My dad built the building now housing the Village offices (formerly the location of Manteno News), just north of the Darb on the same block. My mother operated a beauty shop there. When St. Aubin’s Hardware store burned down, it left a void on Main street. But the town was happy that the Darb was spared. It did have heavy smoke damage. I was six. While in grade school, we were bussed to 33 Main Street, the Darb’s address, which has never changed, to see cartoons and receive a box of “zoo cookies.” Everyone looked forward to this treat. The theater remained in business well into the ‘60’s. As a matter of fact, following our '62 prom, our senior class had a special showing of “Breakfast at Tifini’s” at midnight. Many parents were upset that we would be seeing that particular film; however, it has, as a result, remained one of my favorite films. Next door to the Darb was Harvey’s Funeral Home which was bought out by Art Brown. At that time we had only two funeral homes, Harvey’s and Gordon’s, next to the fire station. Also, on the same block was Ed’s Candy Kitchen. A block north, a couple from Kankakee opened “Clara Mae’s.” Between Hilsenoff’s Drug Store, Ed’s and Clara Mae’s, we teenagers had plently of places to hang out. Cliff Ownes built my dad’s house, one of the first, across from the former High school, on Marquette Drive. Mr. Owens did purchase the Darb, tear it down, and rebuild as was mentioned in the before-mentioned article(s). Art Brown, who acquire Harvey’s, was able to save a couple of the interior art-deco lights before the Darb was demolished. Many of the former business owners built homes near my parents. One of my favorite memories about downtown Manteno was the American Legion Post’s annual three-mile long parade. It was bouncing! Clowns and a carnival was set up next to the Legion. My dad was commander of the post for one year. He started the Manteno Little League. I grew up in the splendor of “small town America,” and I can honestly say that it was a good life, being in Manteno.
No connection to the White Front Theater.
That would be 190 seats total.
One more thing. Manteno State Hospital did not have a movie theatre. A movie was presented weekly at the Auditorium on the State Hospital grounds.
The upper quarters (which I’ve seen) was used for storage only after a fire destroyed the north side of the building soon before Laemmle rented it from an undertaker. The three windows in front were sealed as a result of the fire. The building was deemed “a one story building,” as Carl Laemmle made note in an unpublished 1927 memoir.
Yes. This was the location, but this is not the White Front Theatre. It was taken over in February 1911 by the Peto Brothers (Peto Theatre) for a short time before the business dissolved in the fall of 1911.
I’ve read with great interest what’s been written about the Darb Theatre. Our family owned a house across the tracks, a block north. We had a grocery on main street which is now part of the U.S. Post Office. My dad built the building now housing the Village offices (formerly the location of Manteno News), just north of the Darb on the same block. My mother operated a beauty shop there. When St. Aubin’s Hardware store burned down, it left a void on Main street. But the town was happy that the Darb was spared. It did have heavy smoke damage. I was six. While in grade school, we were bussed to 33 Main Street, the Darb’s address, which has never changed, to see cartoons and receive a box of “zoo cookies.” Everyone looked forward to this treat. The theater remained in business well into the ‘60’s. As a matter of fact, following our '62 prom, our senior class had a special showing of “Breakfast at Tifini’s” at midnight. Many parents were upset that we would be seeing that particular film; however, it has, as a result, remained one of my favorite films. Next door to the Darb was Harvey’s Funeral Home which was bought out by Art Brown. At that time we had only two funeral homes, Harvey’s and Gordon’s, next to the fire station. Also, on the same block was Ed’s Candy Kitchen. A block north, a couple from Kankakee opened “Clara Mae’s.” Between Hilsenoff’s Drug Store, Ed’s and Clara Mae’s, we teenagers had plently of places to hang out. Cliff Ownes built my dad’s house, one of the first, across from the former High school, on Marquette Drive. Mr. Owens did purchase the Darb, tear it down, and rebuild as was mentioned in the before-mentioned article(s). Art Brown, who acquire Harvey’s, was able to save a couple of the interior art-deco lights before the Darb was demolished. Many of the former business owners built homes near my parents. One of my favorite memories about downtown Manteno was the American Legion Post’s annual three-mile long parade. It was bouncing! Clowns and a carnival was set up next to the Legion. My dad was commander of the post for one year. He started the Manteno Little League. I grew up in the splendor of “small town America,” and I can honestly say that it was a good life, being in Manteno.